Uncoupling device.



H. T. KRAKAU. UNCOUPLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE go, 1907.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR H. T. KRAKAU. UN COUPLIN G DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JUN Patented Janl25,1910.

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INVENTOR WITN ESSES H. T. KRAKAU. UNUOUPLING DEVICE. APPLI'UATION FILED JUNE 20, 1907.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

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WFTNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY T. KRAKAU, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSI'GNOR TO THE NATIoNAL MAnLE B n GASTINGS COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, A ooRPoRATIoN- or OHIO. I

UNCOUPLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20, 1907.1 Serial No. 379,872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY T. KRAKAU, of Cleveland, Guyahoga county, Ohio, have iiivented a new and useful Uncoupling Device,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this'specification, in wliicli I Figure 1 is a front elevation of a car provided with my improved device; Fig. 2 is a front elevation on .a larger scale showing the connection of the device to'the'coiiplerlock; Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the parts; Fig. his a detail view ofthe operating handle in the vestibule of the car, and Fig. is a horizontal section on the line VV of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view partly insectioii, showing the radially swinging coupler and bufler.

My invention provides an uncoupling device which is especially useful with radially,

swinging draft gears and also with radially swinging buffer and vestibule, and it providesreliable means by which a'coupler can be operated and can beheld in locked position. l I v In Fig. 1, 2 represents the coupler, the

shank of which is radially mounted in a manner which is now familiar in the art, and 3 is a radially swinging buffer WhlCh is engaged with the coupler at 4 and moves laterally therewith as the car "passes around curves. 5 is the vestibule, which is mounted V upon the buffer and moves therewith.

crating handle 14: within the vestibule.

in Fig. 2, 6 isthe coupler lock, which may be of-ordinary construction, and 7 is a lever which is pivoted at 8 to the coupler-head and is connected by a link 9 or any other suitable connection, with the head of the lock." 10 is a bell-crank lever which is pivoted to the radially swinging buffer of the car and is operated either-directly by a handle 11 at the side of the car. or by a rod 12 whichextends upwardly from the handleto a lever 13 pivoted to the vestibule and having anrophis ' handleis preferably slotted at 15 and fits over the lever-'13 sothat by pulling down the handle the main lever 10 may be operated for the purpose of uncoupling, and so that when the uncoupling is efi'ected by the lower lever 11 the lever 13 will'operate without moving the handle 14. The bell-crank lever 10 is connected by a link 16 to a rod 17 by a slot connection 18. This rod17eXtends from the coupler-operating lever 7. and is forked flI'OlIllCltliQ arm of the 'bell-ci'ank-lever 10, and also has a-projecting tongue 19 which fits within a socket in the bell-crank lever,

forming a locking connection as described below. The rod 17 is. also-connected with the axis of the bell-eranklever 10 by a guiding link 20.

The operation as followstBy raising the outerarni of the bell-crank lever 10 as isdrawn to the right, the lever 7 is rocked,

Patented Jan. 1910.

.65. shown bydotted lines'in Fig. 2, the rod 17 and the coupler lock is elevated as shown by dotted lines, so as to free the knuckle of the coupler. The first motionof the bell crank lever 10 releases the socket from the projec- 1 tion 19 by reason of the loose motion permit ted by the slot 18 so as to permit the motion of the rod 17 and lever 7. The lock cannot be moved. except by moving the bell-crank lever 10, for if force be applied to the. lock 6 or to the lever 7 or rod ,17 the engagement of the projection 19'with'its socket, and the'con- I nection of the link; 20' with the rod-19, will efi'ectually lock the parts and revcnt an such motion. In this way, a loch to theloc is afforded.

As the lever 10 is connected to the bufi'er which swings with the radial draft gen.

1' the proper relation of the parts is at all. times maintained, so that the coupler can,

passing around be unlocked while thecar is or standing upon curves.

lined. in the claims, the parts may be modified in many ways, since What I claim is M v 1. The combination of a coupler and an uncoupling device extending from the coup ler to the operating station, and a locking mechanism interposed in the uncoupling.

device adapted to be released automatically when the uncoupling device is operated.

2. The combination of a coupler, an un coupling device having an operating memher, a connection firom the operating member to the coupler lock, said connection having a loose engagement with! the operating member, and a locking part upon the connection for locking engagement with the operating member, substantially as de-' 1 Within the scope of my invention as deoperating member to the coupler lock, said connection having a loose connection with the operating member and also having a locking part. engaged with the operating member, and a guiding link coiiperating witlll) th'e locking part; substantially as descri e 4. The combination with a coupler lock,.

link thereor; substantially as described.

5. The combination of a coupler and an uncoupling device extending from the coupler to the'operating station, and a locking mechanism interposed in the uncoupling device adapted to be released automatically when the uncoupling device is ogerated, said uncoupling device extending rigidly fromv the locking mechanism to the coupler; substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 25 m hand.

y HARRY T. KRAKAU.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, GEORGE H. SONNEBORN. 

